Apparatus for supporting a reinforcing mesh in a mold



Aug. 4, 1965 w. A. SCHAICH 3,201,846

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A REINFORCING MESH IN A MOLD Filed May 31, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet l 40D m I -708 INVENTOR.

W/LBUR A. :SC/lfl/C'H J. F: TE/G-LAIVD and n. A. SCHA/CH ATTORNEYS Aug. 24, 1965 w. A. SCHAICH APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A REINFORCING MESH IN A MOLD 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 31. 1961 70 1 a h 1 9/ 'D 1051. 4 .9 l I I z 1 1. u w H U i H D INVENTOR. W/LBUR A. @5CHA/C/7 JF. T'E/GLAND and Aug. 24, 1965 w. A. SCHAICH 3,201,845

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A REINFORCING MESH IN A MOLD Filed May 31. 1961 4. Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. M01504 ,4. JCflA/Cf/ IE TE/GLAND and 144A. \SCHAICH ATTORNEYS 4, 1965 w. A. SCHAICH 3,201,846

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A REINFORCING MESH IN A MOLD Filed May 31, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 {26 i l I f um M44. SCH/4 ICH A rroR/vz'm United States Patent 3,201,846 APPARATUS F0 SUPPORTING A REINFGRQHNG MESH IN A MGM) Wilbur A. Schaich, Maumce, Ghio, assignor to Owens Illinois Glass Qompany, a corporation of flhio Filed May 31, 15961, Ser. No. 113,942 1 Claim. (6i. 25-418) This invention relates to improved apparatus for supporting a reinforcing mesh in a mold for manufacturing slabs of cementitious material and for providing apertures in the slabs whereby a plurality of slabs may be as sembled in side-by-side relationship in erecting building walls or similar structures.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for fabricating cementitious slabs or panels with specially shaped openings extending transversely of the panels and parallel to the width dimension thereof.

A particular object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for supporting the reinforcing mesh or wire in a panel mold utilized for the casting of a cementitious slurry, said apparatus being characterized by the employment of mesh-holding members which are operable in one angular position to lock the reinforcing mesh in a desired position in the mold and at a second angular position to be released from the reinforcing mesh, and further characterized by the fact that removal of such mesh-holding members from the formed panel provides the apertures necessary for assembling such panel in a Wall.

The specific nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the annexed sheets of drawings, on which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one of the cementitious panels utilized in the wall of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1, showing a plurality of cementitiou panels disposed in side-by-side relationship;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged scale, partially sectional view of a portion of the wall of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG, 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, but with the bolt element removed;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the head of the bolt-like member utilized to assemble the wall of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the bolthead of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top elevational view of the bolthead of PEG. 6;

FIGS is a top elevational view of a mold structure embodying this invention which may be used for simultaneous casting of a plurality of cementitious slabs or panels utilized in the wall of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the plane iii-19 of FIG. 9; 2

FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 11-.11 of FIG, 10;

P16. 12 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 1 16.15 is a cross-sectional view of the non-rotating filler element of mesh-retainer shown in relation to horizontal wires of mesh;

FIG. 16 is a top view of rotatable core of mesh-retainer, I

rotated into position for vertical removal;

Patented Aug. 24, 1965 FIG. 17 is a cross-section of retainer on line 17-17 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 18 is a cross-section of retainer on line 18-18 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 19 is a cross-section of retainer on line 19-19 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 20 is a partial side elevational view of that portion of the rotating core containing open entry slot and one-half of the wire-receiving groove; and

FIG. 21 is a partial side elevational view of FIG. 12 in the vicinity of reinforcing wire, but with wire removed for clarity, showing closured slot as left-hand half of assembled wire-receiving groove.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals identify corresponding parts throughout the several views in H6. 2, the assembly of wall ltltl is shown with a two retaining bolt system at the top and a two retaining bolt system at the bottom; however, it is evident that this wall may also be assembled with a minimum of one retaining bolt in the top system and a minimum of one retaining bolt in the bottom system. In assembling wall 190, FIG. 2, panel 4lC is bolted against panel 49D by two bolts 88D, placed in the upper holes 7D-and NC of each pair of holes. Before panel 40C is placed in edgeto-edge relationship with panel MD, a pair of bolts 89C, are inserted, threaded shank in the same direction, in the lower holes 7%? and 73A of the panel 49C, FIGS. 1 and 2. Washers 9%, FIG. 3, are then slipped over the ends of bolts D and nuts 91, are then drawn up on bolts EdD on the lefthand edge of 40C until panel 40C is brought in line with and securely against panel 401).

Two bolts, 3133, FIG. 2, are then inserted into and through holes 7llD and 7C in panel dtiB, which is then placed in line with the two protruding bolts 88C. The shank ends of bolts 800 are inserted in their corresponding holes 7t)? and 7llA of panel 498 so that it may be moved against panel 40C. When panel 408 is in close relationship with panel 40C the nuts 91 on bolts 89D are covered by the same recesses 72, FIGS. 2 and 3, that also hold the heads of bolts Si'lB.

The nuts 92 are then drawn up on bolts 80C to make panel 4&8 part of the wall 1%. The heads of two bolts 86A are then seated in the countersunk end of each lower hole 7tll3 and 7tiA and panel dilA is ready to push over protruding shank ends of bolts SliB. When panel 40A is pushed up to panel dilB the nuts 93 are drawn up on bolts 308 which completes four panel wall 104 as shown in FIG. 2. The two bolts 86A shown protruding from panel d-iiA, FIG. 2, are left thus, to demonstrate the appearance of a wall when a iift'n panel is to be placed in juxtaposition to the left of panel WA.

For making a plurality of panels from cementitious slurry, a cubical rectangular mold 10, FIGS. 9 and 10, is used, having two easily removable side wall 11, and two similarly removable end walls 12, all four resting on base 14, composed of spaced hollow tubes which become individual panel bases, whereby the resulting cementitious casting may be easily sliced into separate panels 46), FIGS. 1 and 2. These hollow beams are held in fixed relationship by a system of removable, equally spaced end plugs 12a carried by end walls 12. This base structure rests upon an elastomeric pad P, FIG. 10, which prevents loss of slurry through the spaces 13 of FIG. 9 lying between the hollow beams.

Such mold structure is described and illustrated in the copending application of Richard C. Gasmire, Serial No. 841,339, filed September 21, 1959, now abandoned, assigned to the assignee of this application. I

To support a reinforcing mesh 39, FIGS. 9 and 10, in

proper position to be incorporated in each of the sliced,

' hush against said Wire.- V V 7 L 1 V V With the structure thus far described,}it-'is apparent that: r the supporting mesh SQinay berestricted' against vertical displacement and one direction of horizontal displacement J panels, the following mesh vided: V

A plurality of vertically are provided for each individual mesh 39,1,t-wo of s uch disposed rod-like mesh "rer ta-iners 50, FIGS. 12-21, are -provic led,- atileast two, of 7 P supporting structure is pro-1. holes 70B, 70C ormD, w the filler elements 51 may bewithdrawn vertically and each core 52 rotated-into thej resulting void and also of the finishedpanels. Thus vertically'removed.

; Each fillerelement 51is assem ed ripen itscore 52.

after thecore52ha's been rotated'to the position indicated in FIG. l2iwherein itis inlengagement with the horizontal wire 31A'of,-the"reinforcing mesh '30. Such assembly is mesh-retainers being disposed on one-sideof the portion lar mesh 30 andadjacent to the respective ends thereof,

and theother tWomesh-retainers 50 being disposed on the i opposite side of the particular mesh Strand closely ad acent to the other mesh-retainers. In principle, eachmeshretainer comprises a rod-like element which maybe in--.

sorted by an axial movement into the mold 10 'infa fixed position closely adjacent tothe particular mesh 30 and;

then'rotated toefiect a locking engagement-between the mesh-retainer 50 and one or more of the horizontally disposed mesh WlIES'31 of the particular mesh 30.

v A supporting structureZOyFIGS. 9 and 10, for the mesh-retainers'Sfi-is provided comprising a lower plate member 23, an upper'plate mernber 22 and; weldedside ,fram e elements,25.; Av support structurerzt) is -provided f at each end of the mold-10 and is accurately located with I through the lower plate 23 and into suitable holes'provided v in the mold sidewalls 11." Plates 22 and 23 arerespee tively provided with-'aplurality of aligned vertical aper-' 1 tures 26 and 27, FIG. 12, there being a set of suchapere core 52,1 to' bring the narr-ow side dla'thereof into contiguous relationship ,with the'awires of the'lmesh' 30, r

respect to the mold cavity by dowel pins21 which pass tures for each mesh-retainer'St);

aecomplishedfby axially fsliding the filler element- 51 around the core structure 52 and downwardly through the aligning apertures 26 and'27 which effect-the proper horizontal: positioning of the particular m'esh-retainer 5t Flat face 64of part 51,.FIG'. 21, then closes slot 55, FIG. 1 20, changing it into' left hand'half ofgroove '55.- Since both faces 63, and 64 he flush against side of wire 31A, neither part 51 nor part 52 can rotate in guides 26 and 27,

I and when {paired with .an adjacent, opposing mesh-rea tainer, one end of said wireis partly locked in place,,and

is "completely locked in; place when a similar pair. of Opposing, :adja'c'ent mesh retain'ers are .set in their guides and M their grooves grasp the wire atiits free end; After'all the mesh-retainers 50 have beenlocked'in assembly with the like core element 52 around Which-a hollowfiller element V 51 may be assembled after the core'52 is inserted inthe mold. The cross sectionalconfiguration of each core 52 is indicated by the plurality of sectional views, FIGS. 14, 16, and 17-19, respectively, fromtwhich. it will be observed that one sidef52a of each core '52 is of semi-cylindrical configuration throughout the entire length While the other;

sid'e 52b is radiallyenlargedat its upper end. 7 The extreme lower portion 58 of leach'core element 52 is of true 7 cylindrical" construction and is proportioned as to'f 7 I V 1 snugly rest against the sides of thelowermest hb i t lr, force of the conerete being rap1dly poured into such mold. '1 At] the same time, ..the'panelwfastening apertures 70A wires ofthereinforcing mesh 30, such as'the wires 31B," 1 V h {70D are laccuratelydefined in each of, the panels.

31C and 31D of FIG. 10, The core'52 is fullyfinserted' into the mold 10 by insertion through the apertures 26 .and' 27 of; the support-structureltl With the cylindrical side 52a adjacent the mesh 30 Flu thiszpositiom the radially, enlarged upp'er portion52b of the core '52'will .egite'nd at least below the topmost Wire 31A of the reinforcing me'sh 3th Ahorizontal slot 56, FIG; fli -provided in such en-l larged portion, :begins to, engage the top'wireSlA when. 1 the core structure 52 is rotated about its axis 'after itsinitialinsertion in the mold; This'jrotation is halted by ri'ghtye: hand half '63,'of1 groove 55,-FIGS; 20."andf-21-,Iseating concrete.with aminimufn ofefiort;

' respective reinforcingmeshesw, the moldl'fi is then filled with appropriate' 'concrete slurrywhich is permitted to harden toa self-supporting consistency.

' Whemthis condition is reached, the spacer; elements are withdrawn-by means of axial motion applied at ring 53, andthe core 'structurel5 2'of each mesh retainer -h; rotated counterclockwise," FIGQ1'6, approximately 135?- as by twisting pins 54; provided-in thetop of each whereupon the'mesh wii'e 31A no longer lies in the slot 56, FIGS. 16 and 20, and thecore 52, maybe axially withdrawn from the mold and from the prehardened l't' is, herefore, apparent that the aforede'scr ibed constr'uction permits positioning of the; reinforcing vmesh 3i) within the cavity of mold 10 with alvery highdegree of accuracy and; positively locks each such mesh against accidental displacement that-might be caused by the The: resulting cake or 1 partially hardened concrete .is exposed vby removing the'g-mold side -Walls 11' and end f 'wallsnl 2, whereuponrthecake; isr'sliced lengthwise by -well know'napparatus' to form a plurality offpanels 40 by 'operation of one core elefmentSZ.ofthemesh-retaineriI;

" 50.; The complete locking oftheme'shfitl is achieved by" utilizing {our of s such. mesh-retainers? 50 disposed as pre-;--

' viously indicated;vvithapair thereof ateach end of the mesh andtheelementsof-eagh pairbeingidisposedlfromf opposite'sides of themesh 3.9 However, whenjthemold; lliis filled-with concretel slurryiand such-slurry permitted '10 prehardem. were the removal offacore ,shaped like 52 to be attempted, it is apparentthat therelwould be 'aisub transverse wired-1A, which waslheld 'injthis'relationship each containing" an acouratelypositioned reinforcing mesh *30 and traversed by four assembly holes-L701; 179D; Curing'and completev hardeningof-thefpanels is then "'i iefiected, 'eithergby air drying orrautoelavingand the finished rpanelsarethen stripped from; the mold base-tubes 14a M v e V f 'om t Q oi git will be 'apparentthat the countersunk portions72' of holes 70 0f .the finished panels, 40,

FIGS; 1+4 and '125arerespectivelyQinade by those parts of the 'cylindrical mesh-retainers ,50-Which lie below the ipaily y b t m f e 6. hire ltF fi l n wand is completed by" bottomfaceg 62 "ofpart 52, IGS. 12, 19. and 20. -.Stemportioh ..58,1 FIGS. 10 and] 12,-fer the 'r'etainer 7 forms the smaller diameter portion B 'of hole-70', FIGS. .1 andS, which eceives.the -body87 of, bolt!80,}FIGS. 6 andr7. rapid; llfenlarged portions 7 of the?retainersshown as phantoms 50A andSQBmaybe' ade to rest againstve'rtical. wires 32A and 32B 'iof inesh I Temaifiiiig feature of. the; complex shoulder system g to the .r'e'stfof the Icountersunk.areaby the interlocking.

' otion: of; pair s 'off grooves 'l-FIGS. 1:2 and-21; re-

Since in this type of wall design the heads of any assembly bolts are made inaccessible by the already closed joint between each two previously mounted panels, it is desirable that an internal control means, at the bolthead area, be provided to prevent the assembly bolts from turning on their central axes in the holes when the nuts are \bing drawn tight on the opposite threaded ends, two panel widths beyond. This is accomplished by providing the assembly bolts 80, FIGS. 6-8, with a regular hexagonal head 85, topping an unusual shoulder 86, whose bottom face 83 rests upon contrete shoulder area 71, FIGS. 3-5, of countersunk hole in the foamed panel 40. The curved portion 81 of said bolt partly encircles wire 31A of transverse otf-set wire shoulder, FIGS. 3-5, while simultaneously, fiat sideface 82 sets flush against the exposed straight line side of said transverse wire shoulder, thus preventing the bolt from turning While the nut on threaded end 89 of bolt 80 is being tightened against washer 90 protecting panel 40.

The countersunk chamber 72 of hole 70, FIGS. 3 and 4, is deep enough so that there is space above the head of the traversing bolt for receiving the threaded shank and the nut and washer of the bolt that holds the previous two panels together. These latter projecting items being thus recessed into the next panel, a flush edge-to-edge panel assembly is provided.

In assembling the panels, since each pair of holes is offset on opposite sides of the transverse wire 31 of reinforcing mesh, the flats 82 of the boltheads 85 are always inserted in the face-to-face relationship shown for the two boltheads depicted in panels 40B and 40C of FIG. 3.

A modification of the above four-hole assembly system would be to use only upper pairs of holes and their alternating bolts while securing the bottom edges of the panels in a channelizod or grooved foundation.

Another modification would be the reverse of this latter method in that the channel might be provided adjacent to the ceiling area and the lower pair of holes 70 and their alternating bolts 80 would be used to give rigidity to the wall.

It will, of course, be understood that various other details of construction may also be modified through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claim.

Iclaim:

A device for providing vertical support for a reinforcing mesh disposed within a mold and designed for extraction when the molded material has set sufficiently to support said mesh, comprising: a core and a collar which telescope together and cooperatively define a lower cylindrical portion and a surmounted upper cylindrical portion, both portions being concentric to a common longitudinal axis, said upper portion having a larger diameter than said lower portion, said upper portion having a transverse notch designed to receive and support a horizontal portion of said mesh, said transverse notch being spaced from said axis a distance at least equal to the radius of said lower portion; said core including said lower cylindrical portion, that portion of said upper portion directly underlying said notch and another portion of said upper cylindrical portion, said another portion extending the length of said upper cylindrical portion; said collar including at least that portion of said upper cylindrical portion which lies below the plane of said notch but does not directly underlie said notch, whereby on removal of said collar from the molded material the core may be rotated from underlying engagement with said mesh into a portion of the void left by said collar to permit Withdrawal of said core.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 472,189 4/92 Donaldson 25-1281 780,321 1/05 Burlcholder et al. 25-121 1,183,128 5/16 Sheldon 25-121 1,389,803 9/21 Wolfe 25-11 8 1,439,646 12/22 Smith 25-44 1,734,771 11/29 Mitchell -132 2,014,080 9/35 Colt 25-131 2,340,263 1/44 Dodson 50-132 2,901,807 9/59 Helmerson 25-118 2,979,801 4/61 Gasmire 25-154 2,989,793 6/61 Jakobsson et al. 25-118 3,070,867 1/63 Belle 25-131 FOREIGN PATENTS 865,520 2/ 41 France.

839,922 5/52 Germany.

291,838 6/ 28 Great Britain.

WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

JACOB NACKENOFF, ROBERT F. WHITE,

Examiners. 

